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Westpac and Microsoft launch Data Driven Experience Platform

19 November 2019

Westpac today announced its Data Driven Experience Platform (DDEP), a Microsoft Azure based data hub which draws on data sources from across Westpac Group to provide real-time, personalised insight to its customers.
 

Built with co-investment and engineering resources from both companies, Westpac’s DDEP has been designed to catapult Westpac to the forefront of digital banking and prepare it for the fast approaching era of open banking in Australia.
 

The DDEP will act as the foundation for real time data analytics across the bank, and increasingly use machine learning and other Azure cognitive services to support decision making and enhance customer interactions, with the goal of delivering more personalised services based on greater understanding of customer behaviour and preference.
 

According to Westpac Group CIO, Craig Bright; “We’ll be differentiated not by our strategy, but by our ability to execute with speed and efficiency. Our use of cloud and our partnership with Microsoft is therefore key to our success.
 

“The Data Driven Experience Platform gives us access to an incredibly rich set of capabilities that enable us to engage digitally in real-time with our customers in a way that’s personalised, intelligent and autonomous. Our customers will start to experience this with the rollout of our new mobile app next year.”
 

Westpac’s DDEP utilises Azure DevOps and is continually monitored with Azure Sentinel and Security Centre. Azure Sentinel has been specifically designed to use artificial intelligence to protect sensitive data and has the proven ability to tackle the analytics required to secure the bank’s data. The platform supports Westpac as it complies with the Open Banking requirements of Australia’s Consumer Data Right Legislation.
 

In addition to Azure, Microsoft and Westpac have been working together to access the feature rich capabilities of Microsoft 365 E5, Dynamics 365, Power BI and Windows Modern Management to enable Westpac employees.

Bank of the future

Steven Worrall, managing director of Microsoft Australia said; “We are delighted to be working closely with Westpac on their deployment of cloud and new digital platforms to support their vision of being one of the world’s great service companies. Recognising the critical importance of robust, resilient and secure cloud infrastructure Microsoft continuously invests in our technology, our Australian operations and the skills of our people.
 

“Azure, Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 are resilient and high performing digital foundations for modern workplaces like Westpac. Atop that our engineering teams are working together using an agile approach, establishing the right tooling and the integrated controls to ensure proper systems governance and the creation of platforms that are compliant by design. This helps build the tech intensity that Microsoft considers essential to successful digital transformation and enduring impact.”

Westpac’s Modern Workplace

Westpac’s move to Microsoft 365 is a key component of the Banks’s WorkSMARTER program which is helping increase productivity and collaboration and enable users to provide a better experience to their customers.
 

Westpac has rolled out common desktop and cloud-based collaboration to 55% of its employees and is on track to complete this next year.
 

Access to the Office 365 Platform with OneDrive, SharePoint, Yammer and Teams is changing work practices and supporting Westpac’s adoption of agile by allowing ideas to be shared and developed across multiple locations through electronic whiteboards, chat sessions, web conferencing and real-time document editing.
 

Westpac’s distributed workforce will soon benefit from the rollout of Azure-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that is using Citrix Cloud and Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD). The new VDI platform allows Westpac to quickly adapt to the workforce change in each of its locations and arbitrate the launch of both onsite and public cloud based on workloads.
 

The Microsoft 365 E5 suite of products provides an integrated set of security solutions that will help Westpac reduce complexity and lower cost while providing an enhanced security augmented with AI.
 

For media enquiries:

Dianne Edwards

Westpac Media Relations

M: 0421 623 014